Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-22
CITY AND DISTRICT.
BOOKS FOR THE CLERKS.
a Class o. Literature Stimulated by
the Clyil-Seryice Law.

AnoY AND HIS sArcHRlFul OF BooKs-ctERxs WHO
War 10 CRAM FUR Rx,xSATIoSs-Hov MONEY
n MADE OUT OF THE AMIGOS DEPARTMENT EN-
noYza
A boy walked into one OF the Departments the
other day and quietly deposited saichei on the
noor. he got down on his knees and unlocked II,
and disclosed 10 view q lot OF little square books
with red covers Then he stood az a little dis
lance. leaning his back against one OF the COZ
INNS and looked steadily at the display without
aayfng word 10 was near noon. and the door al
which ne was stationed was most convenient 10
the nearest lunch-room. soon the clerks began 10
60 IN their quest OF refreshments. and as the ooy
and the satchel Intercepted their VISION they hes
ftatef and stopped then went on again, then
stopped and came back for another look at the
eatchel and the silent. llecrull-looxing ooy
The boy had a loOk about him that ihdleateY
great accumulated store OF knowledge ana Wis
dom--as II be had some secret By which he knew
all things-and his steady sn1 profound gaze at
TIE satchel seemed 10 point out the secret
SCRAMBLE PoR TIE BOOKS
The clerks came back one by one and examined
the satchel. first at distance and then nearer oy
Others came along and stopped They soon had
the object OF their curiosity surrounded one ana
then another STONED down and picked out a little
red book. The title was read, and then there was
sort OF scramble ior mem Root ae Toqns sss
dropped In his hand he murmured something
about cfvn service a. ne toos tne silvrr; Inc oay
OF an examination 10 test th'ir illness Tor promo
6cns that were not 20 be made, and many 9th rs
knew their turn would soon come.
sAI thr valuable inform ltion there IS! mil
hon facts! All tnat IL Is Important 10 know! Tells
you al about eysry.aing eonden,ed sd isg
service examination. something new; got out
rust In the nick Of time. Geography, history and
said this In one ore tn, and Tue books were going
fast As he went away, swinging his empty olg,
he medta,ed upon the opporIu lilies the new CIVIL
The clerks carrird on their volumes or con.
densed education tpocket editlons). One man, as
ucs and Intricate Diagrams said be guessed It
might Be good thing TO read b fore examination,
tain ahet Der be be be should ever s att mps
~. ~ Is farce fraud, and hunoug,s ne said
~ don't mean the oook-though thai may be, too
but the sxamination."
MaExo MONEY OUT OF CLERKS.
The clerks are DO more reeonciled 10 the exam
nations for promotions that are not TO be made.
Since the rule went Into effect there have BEEN all
sorts OF devices 10 make money out OF the clerks
Books OF universal knowledge, convenient pocket
dictionaries with tables, and pamphlets contain
ting "civfl-service questions" have Dr. n pr pared
and published In variety OF forms and in great
numbers to be sold 10 the rrSs at Is cents or 2o
Genus each. Some OF the clerks have accumulat ed.
respectively lrye libraries Of these aids to promo
ZION Anynins INT parPys 10 "a ss sa,y ,e ths
Dtparmenta Teachers who 'prrpIre clerks FOR
cIviLssrvice exaulinal ons have appeirei IN great
school teachers at some me and others who
have had the advantage OF superior educatfon1,
add 70 their salaries Uy instruc ing Their Eel ow.
clerka The STAR man was told OF one case re.
Gently where one N n instructed whole room
full OF his Re low clerks for an minatton where
he himself would be a competitor
THE CHANCES or ExAxISArIoys
An odd feature OF the thing Is that ofren those
VINO are able 10 teach the rest are exceiied on ex-
animation oy some OF no education or ability at
al, who, BY q feat OF memory. have accumulated
LOT OF facts from some OF the books OF 'condensed
education" One OF the officials Ia whose once an
examination wss recently held told d STAR re-
nor er the other day that the man Of all Others
who gave most sati faction In the line OF WORK
upon which be was empl yed-one or the most EN-
cent and valuable clerks In the whole ofdce-had
fatsd utterly on examination. The man Is draw
Ing almost the lowest paw In the classified service
and Is performing the work OF the highest grade
clerk.